Biography

Career Transactions: Selected by Cleveland Browns in first round (21st overall) of 2009 NFL Draft, April 25, 2009…Signed first contract, July 25, 2009…Designated transition player by Browns, March 3, 2014…Signed to offer sheet by Jacksonville Jaguars, April 11, 2014…Re-signed by Browns after team exercised first-refusal rights, April 14, 2014.

Has played every offensive snap (4,998 consecutive) through first 80 career games, and is one of only four NFL offensive linemen, including Joe Thomas, who has played every offensive snap for his team since at least 2009.

As a senior at California, awarded the Draddy Trophy, given to college football’s top scholar-athlete.

A two-time Rimington Trophy finalist in college, given to the nation’s top center, a two-time All-American and a two-time Morris Trophy recipient, becoming only the third player in conference history to be named the PAC-10’s most outstanding offensive or defensive lineman in back to back seasons.

Embarked on a weeklong visit to U.S. troops at military bases throughout Southwest Asia during the 2011 offseason as part of the NFL-USO program.

Career Highlights: Has started all 80 games and played every offensive snap since entering the league in 2009…Earned Pro Bowl honors in 2010 and 2013… Named a 2013 AP second-team All-Pro honoree…Has played every offensive snap (4,998 consecutive) through first 80 career games, and is one of only four NFL offensive linemen, including Joe Thomas, who has played every offensive snap for his team since at least 2009…Kept his consecutive start streak and snaps streak going throughout the 2011 season, despite undergoing a midseason appendectomy…Part of a line that helped pave the way for former Browns RB Trent Richardson to set franchise rookie records in rushing yards (950), TDs (11) and total yards from scrimmage (1,317)…Was one of four rookie offensive linemen to start all 16 games in the NFL in 2009…Was named to the Pro Football Weekly/Professional Football Writers of America All-Rookie team…Selected 21st overall by the Browns in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Pro Bowl Selections (2): 2010, 2013

Seasonal Reviews:

2013: Earned Pro Bowl honors, his second career selection, becoming the third Browns center to earn multiple Pro Bowl honors, joining John Morrow (1962, 1964) and Tom DeLeone (1980, 1981)...Named a 2013 AP second-team All-Pro honoree...Started 16 games at C, playing all 1,106 offensive snaps...Has played every offensive snap (4,998 consecutive) through first 80 career games...One of only four NFL offensive linemen, including Joe Thomas, who played every offensive snap for his team since at least 2009 (Justin Blalock, D’Brickashaw Ferguson)...One of three Browns offensive linemen (Mitchell Schwartz, Joe Thomas) who played every offensive snap in 2013...Started all 16 games at C.

2012: Started all 16 games at C, and did not miss an offensive snap…Voted a first-alternate to the AFC Pro Bowl squad…Part of an offensive line that helped Trent Richardson earn Browns rookie records in rushing yards (950), rushing TDs (11) and total yards from scrimmage (1,317).

2011: Started all 16 games at C, and did not miss an offensive snap, despite undergoing an appendectomy on Oct. 3…Part of an offensive line that led the way for 100-yard rushing performances by RBs Chris Ogbonnaya (115 yards vs. Jacksonville 11/20) and Peyton Hillis (112 yards at Baltimore 12/24).

2010: A member of the AFC Pro Bowl squad, scored the game’s final touchdown on a 40-yard run off a lateral…Became the sixth Browns center to earn a Pro Bowl nod and the first since Tom DeLeone in 1981…Named to Sports Illustrated’s All-Pro team…Started all 16 games at C and did not miss an offensive snap for the second consecutive season…Part of an offensive line that paved the way for five individual 100-yard rushing performances and a running game that averaged 4.0 yards per attempt… Behind the line, Peyton Hillis rushed for 1,177 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns, tied for the fourth-highest total in the AFC and sixth in the NFL…In addition, the line allowed one or fewer sacks in seven games.

2009: Started all 16 games at C and did not miss an offensive snap…One of four rookie offensive linemen to start all 16 games in 2009, along with Buffalo’s Andy Levitre (LG), Seattle’s Max Unger (13 at RG, 3 at C) and Baltimore’s Michael Oher (12 at RT, 4 at LT)…Became just the fifth NFL rookie to start all 16 games at C since 1998, joining Damien Woody (New England, 1999), Alex Stepanovich (Arizona, 2004), Nick Mangold (Jets, 2006) and Samson Satele (Miami, 2007)…Key part of a running game that averaged 4.2 yards per carry and 130.4 rushing yards per game, including an individual club-record 286 yards rushing by Jerome Harrison at Kansas City (12/20)…Part of a line that allowed just 30 sacks on the year, including only seven over the final seven contests…Named to the Pro Football Weekly/Professional Football Writers of America All-Rookie team…Selected to USA Today’s All-Joe team…Helped the team record four consecutive contests with more than 160 rushing yards, becoming the first Browns team to accomplish the feat since 1968…Served as a key blocker on kickoff returns, helping the Browns to an NFL-best average starting position of 31.4.

College: Attended the University of California (2005-08)…Awarded the Draddy Trophy as a senior, given to college football’s top scholar-athlete…Two-time Rimington Trophy finalist, given to the nation’s top center…Two-time All-American…Named the PAC-10 Conference’s 2008 Scholar-Athlete of the Year…Four-time league academic honor roll honoree…Member of ESPN’s All-Bowl Team in 2006 and 2008…Did not allow any quarterback sacks or pressures on 397 pass plays in 2008…Penalized just twice on a total of 832 snaps as a senior…Finalist for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award, given for academic and athletic accomplishment…Was the 2008 winner of the Schlessinger Coaches Award, which recognizes outstanding athletic ability, academic success and community service at Cal…Became the third player in PAC-10 Conference annals to receive the Morris Trophy in back-to-back seasons…Led a line that allowed just 11 sacks in 2007, the third-lowest figure in the country that year…Redshirted as a freshman…Earned a degree in legal studies, spent his senior season as a graduate student and is working towards his master’s degree.

Personal: Participated in the NFL’s second annual “NFL Pro Hollywood Boot Camp” during the 2013 offseason, which offered a comprehensive overview of creative disciplines in the film industry including screen writing, directing, producing and film financing…Father, Steve, played basketball at Baldwin-Wallace (Berea, Ohio) College from 1966-69…High School: Attended San Marcos (Santa Barbara, Calif.) High School…Played on both the offensive and defensive lines…Named the Channel League’s co-Most Valuable Player on defense and a first team all-league selection…Two-time All-CIF choice and a three-time all-county and all-league member… Named to Prep Star’s All-West team as a senior, helping his team rush for 2,031 yards in 2003...Added four letters in wrestling, advancing to the state wrestling tournament as a CIF heavyweight champion and compiled a 28-2 record on the mat as a senior, when he ranked second in the state…Community Involvement: Embarked on a weeklong visit to U.S. troops at military bases throughout Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan during the 2011 offseason as part of the NFL-USO program; his father and cousin both served in the military…Enjoys helping children, including through school visits and reading to kids…Active in the Cleveland community, volunteering for several Shop with a Pro and military themed events… Helped raise funds and awareness for hungry families and malnutrition during Taste of the Browns…Interests/Hobbies: An avid traveler who has visited Australia, Brazil, England, France, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand and Turkey…A voracious reader with diverse tastes, including historical-fiction, science-fiction and fantasy books.

Career Transactions: Selected by Cleveland Browns in first round (21st overall) of 2009 NFL Draft, April 25, 2009…Signed first contract, July 25, 2009…Designated transition player by Browns, March 3, 2014…Signed to offer sheet by Jacksonville Jaguars, April 11, 2014…Re-signed by Browns after team exercised first-refusal rights, April 14, 2014.

Has played every offensive snap (4,998 consecutive) through first 80 career games, and is one of only four NFL offensive linemen, including Joe Thomas, who has played every offensive snap for his team since at least 2009.

As a senior at California, awarded the Draddy Trophy, given to college football’s top scholar-athlete.

A two-time Rimington Trophy finalist in college, given to the nation’s top center, a two-time All-American and a two-time Morris Trophy recipient, becoming only the third player in conference history to be named the PAC-10’s most outstanding offensive or defensive lineman in back to back seasons.

Embarked on a weeklong visit to U.S. troops at military bases throughout Southwest Asia during the 2011 offseason as part of the NFL-USO program.

Career Highlights: Has started all 80 games and played every offensive snap since entering the league in 2009…Earned Pro Bowl honors in 2010 and 2013… Named a 2013 AP second-team All-Pro honoree…Has played every offensive snap (4,998 consecutive) through first 80 career games, and is one of only four NFL offensive linemen, including Joe Thomas, who has played every offensive snap for his team since at least 2009…Kept his consecutive start streak and snaps streak going throughout the 2011 season, despite undergoing a midseason appendectomy…Part of a line that helped pave the way for former Browns RB Trent Richardson to set franchise rookie records in rushing yards (950), TDs (11) and total yards from scrimmage (1,317)…Was one of four rookie offensive linemen to start all 16 games in the NFL in 2009…Was named to the Pro Football Weekly/Professional Football Writers of America All-Rookie team…Selected 21st overall by the Browns in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Pro Bowl Selections (2): 2010, 2013

Seasonal Reviews:

2013: Earned Pro Bowl honors, his second career selection, becoming the third Browns center to earn multiple Pro Bowl honors, joining John Morrow (1962, 1964) and Tom DeLeone (1980, 1981)...Named a 2013 AP second-team All-Pro honoree...Started 16 games at C, playing all 1,106 offensive snaps...Has played every offensive snap (4,998 consecutive) through first 80 career games...One of only four NFL offensive linemen, including Joe Thomas, who played every offensive snap for his team since at least 2009 (Justin Blalock, D’Brickashaw Ferguson)...One of three Browns offensive linemen (Mitchell Schwartz, Joe Thomas) who played every offensive snap in 2013...Started all 16 games at C.

2012: Started all 16 games at C, and did not miss an offensive snap…Voted a first-alternate to the AFC Pro Bowl squad…Part of an offensive line that helped Trent Richardson earn Browns rookie records in rushing yards (950), rushing TDs (11) and total yards from scrimmage (1,317).

2011: Started all 16 games at C, and did not miss an offensive snap, despite undergoing an appendectomy on Oct. 3…Part of an offensive line that led the way for 100-yard rushing performances by RBs Chris Ogbonnaya (115 yards vs. Jacksonville 11/20) and Peyton Hillis (112 yards at Baltimore 12/24).

2010: A member of the AFC Pro Bowl squad, scored the game’s final touchdown on a 40-yard run off a lateral…Became the sixth Browns center to earn a Pro Bowl nod and the first since Tom DeLeone in 1981…Named to Sports Illustrated’s All-Pro team…Started all 16 games at C and did not miss an offensive snap for the second consecutive season…Part of an offensive line that paved the way for five individual 100-yard rushing performances and a running game that averaged 4.0 yards per attempt… Behind the line, Peyton Hillis rushed for 1,177 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns, tied for the fourth-highest total in the AFC and sixth in the NFL…In addition, the line allowed one or fewer sacks in seven games.

2009: Started all 16 games at C and did not miss an offensive snap…One of four rookie offensive linemen to start all 16 games in 2009, along with Buffalo’s Andy Levitre (LG), Seattle’s Max Unger (13 at RG, 3 at C) and Baltimore’s Michael Oher (12 at RT, 4 at LT)…Became just the fifth NFL rookie to start all 16 games at C since 1998, joining Damien Woody (New England, 1999), Alex Stepanovich (Arizona, 2004), Nick Mangold (Jets, 2006) and Samson Satele (Miami, 2007)…Key part of a running game that averaged 4.2 yards per carry and 130.4 rushing yards per game, including an individual club-record 286 yards rushing by Jerome Harrison at Kansas City (12/20)…Part of a line that allowed just 30 sacks on the year, including only seven over the final seven contests…Named to the Pro Football Weekly/Professional Football Writers of America All-Rookie team…Selected to USA Today’s All-Joe team…Helped the team record four consecutive contests with more than 160 rushing yards, becoming the first Browns team to accomplish the feat since 1968…Served as a key blocker on kickoff returns, helping the Browns to an NFL-best average starting position of 31.4.

College: Attended the University of California (2005-08)…Awarded the Draddy Trophy as a senior, given to college football’s top scholar-athlete…Two-time Rimington Trophy finalist, given to the nation’s top center…Two-time All-American…Named the PAC-10 Conference’s 2008 Scholar-Athlete of the Year…Four-time league academic honor roll honoree…Member of ESPN’s All-Bowl Team in 2006 and 2008…Did not allow any quarterback sacks or pressures on 397 pass plays in 2008…Penalized just twice on a total of 832 snaps as a senior…Finalist for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award, given for academic and athletic accomplishment…Was the 2008 winner of the Schlessinger Coaches Award, which recognizes outstanding athletic ability, academic success and community service at Cal…Became the third player in PAC-10 Conference annals to receive the Morris Trophy in back-to-back seasons…Led a line that allowed just 11 sacks in 2007, the third-lowest figure in the country that year…Redshirted as a freshman…Earned a degree in legal studies, spent his senior season as a graduate student and is working towards his master’s degree.

Personal: Participated in the NFL’s second annual “NFL Pro Hollywood Boot Camp” during the 2013 offseason, which offered a comprehensive overview of creative disciplines in the film industry including screen writing, directing, producing and film financing…Father, Steve, played basketball at Baldwin-Wallace (Berea, Ohio) College from 1966-69…High School: Attended San Marcos (Santa Barbara, Calif.) High School…Played on both the offensive and defensive lines…Named the Channel League’s co-Most Valuable Player on defense and a first team all-league selection…Two-time All-CIF choice and a three-time all-county and all-league member… Named to Prep Star’s All-West team as a senior, helping his team rush for 2,031 yards in 2003...Added four letters in wrestling, advancing to the state wrestling tournament as a CIF heavyweight champion and compiled a 28-2 record on the mat as a senior, when he ranked second in the state…Community Involvement: Embarked on a weeklong visit to U.S. troops at military bases throughout Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan during the 2011 offseason as part of the NFL-USO program; his father and cousin both served in the military…Enjoys helping children, including through school visits and reading to kids…Active in the Cleveland community, volunteering for several Shop with a Pro and military themed events… Helped raise funds and awareness for hungry families and malnutrition during Taste of the Browns…Interests/Hobbies: An avid traveler who has visited Australia, Brazil, England, France, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand and Turkey…A voracious reader with diverse tastes, including historical-fiction, science-fiction and fantasy books.